Jose Reina was the hero of the hour as Liverpool edged out Chelsea in a tense semi-final second leg penalty shoot-out to clinch a place in the Champions League final in Athens.

The Spanish shot-stopper superbly saved spot-kicks from Arjan Robben and Geremi in the nerve-shredding finale but Bolo Zenden, Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt all scored their kicks as clinical Liverpool won 4-1 on penalties.

The shoot-out came after a strength-sapping, high-tempo encounter in which Liverpool always had the edge.

Chelsea arrived at Anfield with a 1-0 first leg lead but that was quickly overturned as defender Daniel Agger squeezed a low shot just inside the post after Steven Gerrard had squared across the edge of the box from a well worked 22nd-minute free-kick.

Liverpool could have had another in the 56th minute as Jermaine Pennant turned Claude Makelele inside out and crossed to the far post where England striker Peter Crouch's downward header was saved by Cech's legs.

Moments later, Kuyt hit the crossbar with a powerful header.

Chelsea's best effort came as Ashley Cole crossed for Drogba to turn a shot over the bar.

Both sides had good chances in an increasingly nervous extra time. Kuyt was given offside as he burst through to bury the rebound after Cech had failed to hold a ferocious drive from Xabi Alonso.

Then five minutes before the end, Drogba just failed to connect with a low cross from Shaun Wright-Phillips.

So it went to penalties and while Liverpool slammed home all theirs, Chelsea faced a Reina in brilliant form.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez hailed his keeper, whose saves were an echo of his display in the shoot-out in last season's FA Cup final against West Ham.

Benitez said: "Pepe was a specialist penalty stopper in Spain, and he has done the same thing here. He practises and is very hard to beat.

"When it came to penalties I was very calm because I had faith in Pepe to save them.

"But it was not just one man, it was a fantastic team effort. I could not have asked for more.

"It was very hard, they have some great attacking players and it was hard to keep them under control but we did that. We played with passion and skill and our fans helped us through."

Skipper Gerrard said: "We have the best keeper in the world but everything was right tonight, the players, the atmosphere and the manager's tactics spot-on."

Kuyt, who slotted away the final penalty, said: "We deserved to win.

"I hit the post and had a goal disallowed but we got there in the end and Pepe was sensational in the shoot-out."

But surly Jose Mourinho said: "My players have a lot of reasons to be proud. We were the best team today, and in extra time the only team who tried to win."